Telephone substation outfit.



110,769,125. l PATENTEDAUG. so, 1904.

' B. B,Y`AXLEY.

,-TELBPHUNB sUBsTATIoN OUTER;-

ArlPLIcATIoN 'r1-LED' Dnc. 2s, 19o3.

plm IA.

UNITED- STATES y ERNEST E. YAXLEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Patented August 30, 1904.

' TELEPHONE suBsTATloN oUTFlT. 7

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,125, dated August30, 1904. Appiicationneanmmher 28,1903. seriaiuaisaeea (Numan.) v i Toa/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, `ERNEST E. YAXLEY, a citizen of the UnitedStates,fresiding at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illi ynois, have invented a certain new and useful in the telephone-receiverto such an extent as absolutely to interfere with satisfactorytelephonic communication. Especially is this the case with certain typeso f telephone apparatus,

such as include large panel-boards carrying the gongs. This defect isparticularly noticed where such sounding-boards form the covers forboxes that contain and support the entire telephonie apparatus. Thedifficulty mentioned is present in a variety of telephonie outfits andis particularly noticeable in subo station outfits," including callinggenerators and batteries, for 1n this type of apparatus larger boxes arerequired to contain the rgenerators and 'batteries The vibrations byacting upon the sounding-board box-cover operate the transmitter toproduce the objectionable sounds inthe receiver. The invention, however,is also of service in telephonie outfits that exclude generators andbatteries such as are present in common battery systems.

In accordance with my invention I provide, in connection with thesignal-receiver,a sounddampener, which is brought into operationafterthe signal-receiver has been actuated.

-This sound-dampener is preferably'in the form of a swinging arm that isnormally out of mechanical engagement with the gongs of thesignal-receiven'but which is brought into engagement with the said gongsafter the signal has been received to eiiecta discontinuation of thevibrations in the gongs, so that mechanically-operated dampenerbeingmoved against the gongs by means vof the switchhook when said hook isrelieved of the weight of the receiver. I do not wish to be limited,however, in all embodiments of my invention to the telephone-receivercontrol of the sound'- dampener, as my invention is capable of otherembodiments. For example, I have devised an arrangement wherein thesound-dampener is normally applied to the gongs and is controlled by anelectromagnet that is included in the generator and bell branch and isenergized as long as the. generator is in operation, thereby effectingthe removal of the sounddampener during the presence of thesignaling-current upon the line both at the calling and called stations.i Another embodiment of my invention is one wherein the sound-dampeneris controlled at the exchange. apparatus being' provided that includesat each substation a dampener-applying electromagnet through whichcircuit is completed by switching apparatus at the eX- change. Thus anoperator after transmitting a signal may causethe vibrations in thegongs to cease by effecting the operation of this switching apparatus.

Another embodiment of my invention is one wherein the dampener, Whilebeing controlled by the telephone-receiver, is not mechanically appliedthrough the agency of said receiver, but is rather electricallycontrolled by the receiver, preferably through the agency of anelectromagnet that is in direct coperation with the dampener and throughwhich.

circuit is closed when the telephone-receiver lis removed'from itsswitch-hook, such'circuit being preferably completed through the diyrect agency of the telephone switch-hook.

This embodiment of my invention is very adaptable to systems whereinlocal batteries are provided for inclusion in circuit with transmittersat the substations through the agency of the telephone switch-hooks, thedampener-controlling magnet being included in the transmitter-batterycircuit.

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, illustrating preferred embodiments thereof, in which- Figure lis a front elevation, partially broken away, of a telephonie apparatusconstructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevationof the structure shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion ofthe structure indicated in Figs. l and 2, partially broken away clearlyto reveal details of construction. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of theupper portion of the lid of the box, showing the sound-dampener. Fig. 5is a diagrammatic view of the form in which the dampenercontrollingmagnet is adapted for inclusion in circuit with the localtransmitter-battery. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view indicating atelephone outfit having the dampener-controlling magnet in circuit withthe generator and signal-bell. Fig. 7 is a view indicating a telephonesystem having substation apparatus equipped with a dampener-controllingelectromagnet whose circuit is controlled at the exchange.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of referencey throughoutthe different iigures.

In cach of the views there is indicated wellknown telephonie apparatus.I have shown a well-known form of gravity switch-hook a, pivoted at oneend b and designed to `support a telephone-receiver c at its other end,which is free and forked. The box and cover desirably carry and containthe entire apparatus. There is indicated upon the front of the cover lthe gongs f and a transmitter-arm g, while within the box is pivoted theswitchhook a, it being understood in the embodiment of the inventionindicated in Figs. l to 4, inclusive, that the bell-operating magnets,the battery, the induction-coil, and generator are all desirably withinthe box, as is well understood by those skilled in the art.

In the embodiment of the invention indicated in Figs. l to 4, inclusive,I have. provided a sound-dampener, preferably in the form of abifurcated lever L, having a pivotal `mounting between its ends, theinner end of the lever preferably being unbranched and slightlyinclined, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, so that the switch-hook inbeing elevated will forcibly effect the rotation of said lever upon itsmounting to effect the engagement of the ends of the branched orbifurcated portions of the lever with the gongs,

the free ends of these branches being desirably surrounded by collars ortips f', of leather or other suitable sound-dampening material, that arethrust into direct contact with the gongs when the switch -hook iselevated. The rotatable mounting of the sound-dampening lever ispreferably accomplished by proyviding two bearings, one upon each sideoi the central branch of the lever and each inclosing one of thebifurcated portions of the lever. It will be understood that when thetelephone-receiver is removed from its hook said hook is elevated bymeans of a spring', such as whereupon the souud-dampener is applied asbefore stated. The mounting of the dampening-lever is closer to thecollars /z than to the inner end of the lever, this inner end of thelever thereby preponderating in weight to effect the removal by gravityol the dampener from engagement with the gongs when the receiver isreplaced upon its hook. Thus it will be seen that in the apparatusindicated in Figs. l to 4 the gongs will not be permitted eifectively tovibrate while the telephone-receiver is removed from the switch-hook, sothat it becomes immaterial to what extent the cover d may act as asounding-board.

In the embodiments of the invention indicated in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 lhave shown elements of substation outfits that are alsoshown in Figs. lto 4, and have marked such elements with similar characters ofreference.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated an apparatus which may be substantiallylike that shown in Figs. l to 4 except that the control by thetelephone-receiver of the souml-dampenrr, while being effected with theagency of the switch-hook, is not effected mechanically by theswitch-hook, but is had with the agency of a dampener-controllingelectromagnet in series with a transmitter-l)attery ym, the transmittera, and the primary of an imluction-eoil 0, whose secondary 7) isincluded with the receiver c in the main telephone-line f7. Vhen thetelephone-receiver is upon its swi tch-hook, the circuit containing thebattery m and the magnet Z is open. When the telephone-receiver isremoved from the switch-lwok, said circuit is closed, whereupon themagnet! operates the sound-dampening lever /t to cause it to engage agong f (one gong only being shown for the sake of clearness) which hasbeen previously rung by the bell-operating magnet fr, that may beoperated by a magnetogenerator s at the calling or called substation orat the exchange. n

In Fig. 6 I have indicated a telephone substation outiit that is verysimilar to the outlit indicated in Fig. 5, like parts being' givensimilar characters of reference. In Fig. (5,

however, the dampener-controlling electromagnet Z instead of beingincluded in circuit with the transmitter-battery is included m lOO -change there is illustrated oneend of a cord-7 sound-dampener beingnormally free from thev circuit with the magnetogenerator s and thebell-magnet r. In this form of the invention the sound-dampener isconstantly in engagement with the gongs, except when callingcurrent isimpressed upon. the ringer-magnet,`

either by the operation of the generator s at a calling or calledstation or bythe operation oi' the signaling-generator at an exchange,A

during which operation the magnet Z is energized to` effect the removalof the dampener from the gon gs, permitting the gongs to sound duringand onlyduring the timethat. the sig-` naling-current is being impressedupon the line. l

In the common battery system shown in' Fig. 7 the telephone-receiver is,in accordance with well-known practice, included in a'closed localcircuit with the secondary p of an induction-coil, whose primary 0 isadapted for inclusion in circuit with the main telephoneline'v throughthe agency of the switch-hoolzl when relieved of the telephone-receiver.The dampener -controlling electromagnet Z is in this embodiment of theinvention included in a grounded branch that is connected with the.,

telephone.switch-hook by means of a normal contact provided therefor,while at the eX- circuit that includes a plug t, shown inserted within aspring-Jack u, constituting the oftice terminals of the telephone-line.The magnet Z is designed in the system shown inv Fig.`

7 to be controlled by the operatorby means of any suitable mechanism,there being shown one form of mechanism and apparatus, includ-. ing acircuit-controlling key e, which when depressed will include thegrounded: battery w in circuit with that side of the telephoneline thatincludes the grounded magnetZ when the telephone-receiver is uponits'hook. The operator after signaling a called subscriber may 'depressthe key u and stop the vibration of the called subscribers signalbell,the

useful4 feature in telephony, as the gongs are -frequently rung afterthe called party is ready to answer. l

It is obvious that manyl changes may be made in the various embodimentsof my invention herein illustrated without departing from the spirit ofmy invention, and I do not, therefore,wish to be limited to the precisearrangements shown; but,

I-laving thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, the following:

' 1. A telephone substation apparatus having a signal-receivingbellprovided with a sound-dampener controlled by the telephonereceiver,substantially as described.`

2. A telephone substation apparatus includ ing a signal-receiving bell,a telephone switch# hoolr, and a sound-dampener for the bellmechanically operated by the switch-hook, substantially as described.

3. A telephone substation apparatus including a signal-receiving bell, asound-dampener forthe bell, and means controlled by the.

switch-hook for eecting the application of the sound-dampener to thebell, substantially as described.

4. Atelephone substation apparatusincludying a receiving-bell, atelephone switch-hook, and a sound-dampening lever pivoted betweenl itsends and adapted to be engaged at one end by the switch-hook whenrelieved of the telephone-receiver and adapted to engage at the otherend the gong of the bell when rotated upon the removal of thetelephone-receiver,

substantially as described.

5. A telephone substation apparatus having a signal-bell provided withtwo gongs having a common clapper, and a sound-dampener mechanicallyindependent of the clapper and serving to engage the said gongs toprevent ringing, substantially as described.

6. A telephone substation apparatus ha ving a signal-bell provided witha clapper, and

a sound-dampener mechanically independent y ofthe clapper and operatingto engage the gong element to prevent the bell from ringing,substantially as described. V

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 23d day ofDecember, A. D. 1903.

ERNEST E. YAXLEY.

Witnesses:

G. L. CRAGG, CARL H. CRAWFORD.

TOO

